Dear Families:

I wish I had a fun April Fool's joke, but I did get pranked by Ms. Babcock's fifth grade class who flash mobbed me with a song and dance today. Nice job, students!

This week and next week, we are celebrating our terrific paraprofessionals who make a positive impact on the lives of your children and the school. Please join me in celebrating: Moira Archuleta, Jen House, Loretta Roe, Kaya Stout, Cari Vermilliom. Cynthia Krasikov, Heather Van Eimeren, Luz Shoemaker, Juliana Argyle, Megan Reynolds, Sophie Thunberg, Laura Maestas, Brit Stockton, Katie Taylor and Sammie Nelson. We are so very lucky to work with this wonderful team!

Our Book Fair begins April 4-April 8. This is a wonderful event that provides books for our library and helps your children discover fun reading materials. The hours of operation are Monday- Thursday, 7:40-8:00am, and 3-3:45pm, and Friday from 7:40-8:00am.

Beginning April 11th, students will take the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, CMAS.

On April 26, we will be hosting the School of Excellence Night. On this night, each grade level will display a special exhibit to share with you tint he hallways. Science Fair projects will be showcased in the gym. Prospective families to MSES can tour the school from 4-5:30pm. Families are invited to join us for dinner catered by Adam's Mountain Cafe at 5:30 or 6:30pm. Meals are $18.00 for adults and $10.00 for children. Join us for a fun-filled night by filling out the attached form.

It's Open Enrollment for our entire school district and we are currently accepting applications for all in district and out of district students. Become a Mustang here! Choice Enrollment.

If you like our school and want to leave a review for other parents, rate us at Great Schools.

If you have a concern about our school, call Ms. Sueppel or Ms. Masone. We want to hear your feedback.

Spring is in the air and we have so many wonderful activities on the horizon. Check out the calendar below.

Warmly,

Maria

• April 4-8 - Scholastic Book Fair

• April 5 - Climate Kids Club Meeting - See Below
• April 6 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
• April 19 - Class Picture Make-Up Day
• April 19 - PAC meeting, 10am
  
• April 22 - No School - Staff Work Day
• April 26 - School of Excellence, Open House and dinner
  
• April 27 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
• May 4 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
• May 11 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
  
• May 18 - Late Start Wednesday (2 Hour Delay)
  
• May 20 - Mustang Might Family Connection Movie Night 5:30pm-8:00pm
• May 26 - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
• May 26 - Last Day of School - 12:00pm Dismissal
  

We are continuing to learn about our town as well as Colonial Towns. We have enjoyed some walking field trips to the Manitou Springs Police Department, our school kitchen and the Post Office. We look forward to our walking field trip to the mineral springs next week so we can search for buildings in our area that were made by bricklayers, masons, and carpenters. Here are some questions to ask your little one about some of the newest tradespeople we have learned about.

What kind of metal does a blacksmith melt to make tools? (Iron). What is the soft stone they use to heat the fire in their forge? (Coal). Why was the blacksmith the most important tradesperson in Colonial times? (They made all of the tools the other tradespeople needed to do their jobs). What does a Bricklayer use to build a house? (Bricks). What does a mason use to build a house? (Stones). How do carpenters fasten or attach pieces of wood together? (They use a hammer and nails). What was your favorite walking field trip we have gone on? Why?

Second graders are starting to learn about the U.S. Civil War. They will learn about important figures during that time such as Hariet Tubman, Ulysses S. Grant, Clara Barton and Abraham Lincoln. We will learn about the War Between the States as well as the underground railroad and the Emancipation Proclamation. Ask your Expert: Why was Hariet Tubman important to enslaved people? (She escaped slavery, then helped many more enslaved people escape using the Underground Railroad) What was life like as a feild worker on a plantation for an enslaved person? (They did not get enough food, they had one pair of clothes, no shoes, worked from sunrise to sunset...etc) What was life like for an enslaved person who worked in the "big house" on a plantation? (They took care of the owners' kids, they wore nicer clothes and had a little more to eat, they cooked, cleaned, did laundry and mended clothing...etc.)

Fourth Graders are continuing their exploration of Geology! We have read about volcanoes through both nonfiction texts and folktales from around North America. We are also learning about “Earth’s building blocks”, the three rock types! Ask Your Expert: What goes on below Earth’s surface to form a volcano? (Tremendous pressure and heat forces magma to move upward through the crack in Earth’s surface.) What is the difference between magma and lava? (Magma is below Earth’s crust, and lava is magma that has erupted). What are the three rock types? (Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock). What is the most important thing to remember about each type of rock? (Igneous: comes from volcanoes - both above and below the Earth’s crust. Sedimentary: made up of sediments and have layers. Metamorphic: they were igneous or sedimentary rocks but were changed due to heat, time, and pressure.) BONUS QUESTION! What are the three types of volcanoes? Act them out! (Active - erupted within the past 10,000 years; Dormant - still active, but haven’t erupted in a while; Extinct - have not erupted for at least 10,000 years.)

Fifth graders are furiously wrapping up their science fair projects! The students have spent the last several weeks conducting science experiments and working their way through the scientific process! The science fair will take place on April 7. Students are proud to show off all that they have learned. In social studies students are researching one of the United States! They are learning interesting and fun facts about their state! Novel studies continue with the reading of Wonder, City of Ember, and Esperanza Rising. Finally, in CKLA we are learning about the idealistic Don Quixote! The pictures below show students from Mrs. Kazmier's class acting out the "lion" scene from the book! Families mark your calendar.....fifth grade promotion is officially on the calendar for Thursday, May 26. More information to follow.

The Fifth Grade Team

Third through fifth graders will have the opportunity to join the Climate Kids Club next month! The Club will meet on Tuesdays after school until 4:00pm, from April 5th through May 10th. Check out the flyer below for more information, and turn your application (also below) in to the front office. There will be a $25 fee to join.

2021-2022 MSES yearbooks are on their way. It is first come first serve. There are only 30 available. Please send $24.00 (check or money) in an envelope with yearbook, student's name, and teacher's name. Let me know if you have any questions. Mwoytko@mssd124.org